ISLAMABAD: The Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane conveyed his best wishes to the incumbent Finance Minister Asad Umar on assuming charge as the new Finance Minister of the country before witnessing the signing of two agreements for the installation of weather surveillance radar in Multan City and Human Resource Development Scholarship.
It may be mentioned that Government of Japan has extended grant assistance worth Japanese Yen 2,370 Million (approx. equivalent to $21.36 Million) to the Government of Pakistan for the two projects titled ‘Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar in Multan City’ and the ‘Human Resource Development Scholarship’.
The Finance Minister welcomed Nakane and said that the new government wishes to strengthen its economic ties with the Japanese Government for achieving full bilateral business potential.
The Japanese Minister said that Pakistan and Japan have diplomatic relations since 1952 and we wish to further strengthen the relations in future. The Japanese Foreign Minister said that with the ‘Naya Pakistan’ there should also be “Naya Japan Pakistan” stressing on the need to further improve trade relations between the two countries.
Installation of surveillance weather radar will enhance Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD)’s capabilities in meteorological observation, weather forecasting and dissemination of warnings through the installation of a sophisticated radar system. This will contribute to the mitigation of damages caused by natural disasters and reduce extensive damages to agricultural products and transportation.
Human Resource Development Scholarships will strengthen the government’s administrative capacities in by providing opportunities to the young capable government officials to obtain master’s degree and then play a leadership role in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
The Finance Minister acknowledged the support of Japan for extending economic and technical assistance to Pakistan in the sectors of energy, road infrastructure, industries, agriculture, water, health, education and security. He also said that Pakistan will welcome the Japanese investment through joint ventures between the private sectors of the two countries.
